California bill to regulate hemp extracts in food is delayed

A proposal to legalize hemp-derived extracts in food and beverages in California is on hold as lawmakers focus on coronavirus-related legislation to help the economy, but the bill’s sponsor says she’s bringing it back in August.

Supporters of the legislation plan to argue in the forthcoming debate that regulating consumable hemp products is “an economic driver” and that it will protect consumers, said Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, a Democrat carrying the proposal.

It would set testing requirements for safety and to ensure products don’t exceed 0.3% THC levels.

Aguiar-Curry said companies interested in selling edible CBD are waiting for legislators to act.

The legislation would also require that products have Quick Response codes that link back to a certificate of analysis – similar to what other states have in place now, said Patrick Goggin, a senior attorney with the Denver-based Hoban Law Group. He is also the chief lawyer for the California Hemp Council, an advocacy organization.